7. Sept. 16, 1987 — Papal visit

staff file photo, Los Angeles Times

Dodger Stadium's largest-ever crowd assembled not to watch Sandy Koufax or Fernando Valenzuela watch, but to hear the Pope speak. Sixty-three thousand people flooded into the ballpark to listen to a sermon delivered by John Paul II in both English and Spanish. The event started with the largest-ever gathering of U.S. bishops entering the stadium. A sky writer sprayed the image of a cross in the airspace above. A group of white-robed priests sitting near the altar attempted, unsuccessfully, to start a wave. During the sermon, which was interrupted more than two dozen times by applause, the Pope commended Catholic officials for their efforts to help undocumented immigrants become U.S. citizens.

Dodger Stadium's largest-ever crowd assembled not to watch Sandy Koufax or Fernando Valenzuela watch, but to hear the Pope speak. Sixty-three thousand people flooded into the ballpark to listen to a sermon delivered by John Paul II in both English and Spanish. The event started with the largest-ever gathering of U.S. bishops entering the stadium. A sky writer sprayed the image of a cross in the airspace above. A group of white-robed priests sitting near the altar attempted, unsuccessfully, to start a wave. During the sermon, which was interrupted more than two dozen times by applause, the Pope commended Catholic officials for their efforts to help undocumented immigrants become U.S. citizens. (staff file photo, Los Angeles Times)

Dodger Stadium's largest-ever crowd assembled not to watch Sandy Koufax or Fernando Valenzuela watch, but to hear the Pope speak. Sixty-three thousand people flooded into the ballpark to listen to a sermon delivered by John Paul II in both English and Spanish. The event started with the largest-ever gathering of U.S. bishops entering the stadium. A sky writer sprayed the image of a cross in the airspace above. A group of white-robed priests sitting near the altar attempted, unsuccessfully, to start a wave. During the sermon, which was interrupted more than two dozen times by applause, the Pope commended Catholic officials for their efforts to help undocumented immigrants become U.S. citizens.